Event Log: May, An Inauspicious Arrival

[faileas]

Event Log: May, An Inauspicious Arrival

I. Boaltinn (1st - 3rd) Boaltinn comes around again. A handful of Mirrorbound will remember the holiday from last year, but for others, it will be brand new. In both Residential Districts, bonfires burn in central locations through the night, frequented by the residents celebrating another summer come to Aefenglom. Curiously, while last year the bonfires seemed quite segregated by human or Monster, this year, there is more of a noticeable mix at each, and Mirrorbound are invited to join the games and festivities quite happily. Characters are invited to try and jump through the bonfire's flames to burn away any poor relationship experiences, be it romantic or platonic, past or present; to aid them in this, those at the Eastern Bonfire will give those participating rune-etched accessories to protect them from the fire. The city has quite a bit to offer for this holiday: shared rose baths at public bathhouses and pleasure establishments that increase feelings of friendliness and talkativeness, poles draped in ribbons meant to be danced around, wrapping a ribbon around the pole to bring good luck for the summer, food stalls whose offerings are meant to be shared, and fortune-telling set up by Divination students of the Coven, who can tell your day is going to go. To see last year's Boaltinn prompts, you can take a glance right here! Much of it, including the bonfires, baths, and entertainments will be similar this year, so feel free to use those in your top levels.

II. An Unusual Arrival (3rd on) A full year from the arrival of the first group of Mirrorbound, the 1st passes quietly, with no one showing up in the mirror-lined halls of the Looking-Glass House. Dates and times are important in most kinds of magic, and this is strange enough that some Witches of the Coven get together on the night of the 3rd to try a probing ritual, attempting to gather some kind of clues that could be useful in prying out the cottage's secrets. Boaltinn is the best time for such things, when the boundaries are thinner, and magic is stronger. Those who are awake that night at 3 am might notice a pulse of harmless silvery light that spreads like ripples on water throughout the whole city, originating at the Looking-Glass House, but nothing further happens, and the Coven receives no answers. Well, nothing happens in the Looking-Glass House. Before long, the reports start coming in: people are emerging from mirrors, regular old mundane mirrors, all over the city. Anything with a particularly reflective surface could be an entry point for someone from another world! Inhabited homes, businesses closed and locked for the night, pools of still water in fountains or the river, these unorthodox Mirrorbound pop up anywhere and everywhere, causing chaos for the City Guard (folks aren't happy to find strangers in their bathrooms at 3 in the morning) and the Coven both. Out of nowhere, a glint of light catches your eye; your heart thunders in your ears as your body moves on its own, your mind consumed with inspecting the source. Your reflection stares back at you, just as curious from the surface - a mirror, a pool of water, your most trusted sword, something fleeting that your mind can barely remember - then ripples at your touch. If you are one of these unfortunate arrivals, it's likely a rude awakening for you, to find yourself somewhere inconvenient, somewhere other than where you've been. It only makes sense to be confused. Hopefully someone finds you and explains to you what's happened to you. Resident Mirrorbound will hear a message from Miss Nessie shortly after it begins, a call to arms: "Dears, I'm quite sorry to disturb you, but it seems your fellows are arriving elsewhere than the Looking-Glass House this month! We're trying to track them all down for the usual welcome, but we could use a hand or several! If you could just bring them by the Coven, the usual spot, that would be lovely." She'll give her usual orientation and pass out Watches, but no doubt the Mirrorbound will be more helpful in this regard, with so many arriving.

III. The Goblin Market (All Month) Life goes on in Aefenglom, despite the addition of so many new residents. With the City Guard decidedly busy dealing with the sudden flood of break-ins (or, more accurately, break-outs?), the vendors of the Goblin Market find opportunity to set up their stalls more openly than they have since the crack-downs some months ago. They pop up all over the city, but clustered more often in the Residential Districts and the Harbor District, where there are even fewer law enforcement agents out and about to run them off. These sellers, while not as devoid of morals as those major players of the Black Market, still have very few compunctions when it comes to lying, cheating, fencing stolen goods, and misrepresenting their wares to unsuspecting buyers. It's also the place to find those things that are- not quite legal, shall we say. They won't say a word if you don't. If confronted, they are quick to pack up their things and slip away, however; they know this city and its hiding places a lot better than you do. With a brand new batch of what the natives assume are Mirrorbound, many undergoing rapid transformations into their Monster forms, many of the wares on display are potions: supposed cure-alls for aches and itches, calming draughts for the full moon restlessness, some even claim their brews can halt changes entirely! Some concoctions are meant to increase a Witch's magical ability, or decrease it, or provide them a finer control. They offer potions that they say will eliminate the need for a Bond, or temporary Bonding potions of their own that they claim are more pure, stronger, than the ones offered by the Coven. Claims are only claims, though. A few remedies for the pain of changing or some regular temporary Bonding potions can be found here and there, but for every potion that works, there are twenty more that have less than pleasant side effects. A brew that will cause everything you touch to turn to solid gold for up to an hour; a potion that will invert your sense of direction - trying to turn right will make you turn left, trying to go forward will cause you to walk backward; a potion that will remove all traction from your feet, causing you to slide around as if cobblestone are the slickest ice. Worse, some shadier vendors sell things more sinister, including a potion that gives you the appearance of being moderately to heavily infected by the Cwyld. Even if you don't drink any, the vendors are not at all careful where they're sloshing those bottles around, trying to show them off, and they all activate on skin contact.

IV. A Wilde Hunt (7th - 22nd) All Mirrorbound, temporary or not, are likely to feel it. Monsters are always affected by the full moons, but this month, it is more. Stronger. Instincts rise to the surface as the Sisters emerge full and visible in the night sky, and for many Mirrorbound, they are undergoing rapid transformations into whatever type of Monster they are meant to be. Curiously, the natives get along like they usually do, noticing nothing out of the norm, other than the increased agitation and restlessness from Mirrorbound Monsters. Monsters' aggression fades when the Sisters start to wane, but as the new moons approach on the 22nd, Mirrorbound Witches will notice their magical reserves overfilling, and will find themselves stricken with the overwhelming urge to use it, until casting spells, pushing one's magical limits, is almost a compulsion. Those who are not in proper Witch-Monster Bonds will feel it even stronger, with no stabilizing magic to consume (for Monsters) or avenues to expend magic (for Witches) other than casting spells. (For those who are interested, the Coven does offer temporary Bonding potions which can be used to help alleviate the effects somewhat.) The Coven Witches notice the signs, and they take decisive action on the morning of the 6th, the day before the full moons. So many Mirrorbound, likely to be so heavily affected by the lunar cycle this month, many of them coming into new features and abilities at a breakneck pace, only spells danger for the city. They barricade off a massive chunk of Wilde outside Aefenglom, largely free of Cwyld and totally bereft of farms, homes, and Wilder outposts. They invite anyone who feels the effects of the moons too strongly to control to come out for a Hunt. The hunting grounds will be open nightly to anyone who needs to work off restless energy or overflowing magic; all participants will be warned that their safety cannot be guaranteed from others, but they won't be able to harm bystanders out here. The woods are thick, with the river cutting through them, and full of wildlife. There is room to run and chase prey, or room to play with your developing magic. Play cat and mouse with your friends or Bondmates, or stalk a stranger. If playing games isn't your thing, there is something else to hunt out here as well. With the deep Wilde entering into Winter, this patch of land so close to the city is much warmer, and fearsome Shades have emerged to search for prey. These were once living beings, Monsters, Witches, or animals, who have been overtaken by Cwyld infection long ago, leaving them dead but for the infection, white-eyed and seeking out sources of magic to consume and infect. Anything could become a Shade, but the most common out right now are the ferocious remains of bears, wolves, and nomadic Arachne and Turnskins. If not killed, these Shades threaten the people of the Outer City, when they inevitably escape the barricade. Careful to limit your contact, though; anyone infected upon their return to the gates will be escorted straight to the infirmary.

Welcome to May's Fourth Wall event, An Inauspicious Arrival! The comms are now open to comments from all registered users and will be until June 1st. Current players, if you don't want fourth wall characters tagging your posts, just say so in your text. Fourth wall characters can use this post for their own network top-levels, or this post for log top levels. This event is game canon; threads from this fourth wall can be used as application samples later and current players may use these threads for AC. As always, be courteous to each other! Let the mod team know if there are any problems and we will handle things.

As always, please direct your questions to this thread!

Comments

[gale_arc]

[ Figures Kor wouldn't exactly have the most in-depth explanation for this. Still, some information is still better than none, and what little Kor does have to tell him is still helpful to know.

Helpful...but far from reassuring. It's one thing to know that arrivals to this place can be transformed. Knowing that Hisui himself might be one of them is downright frightening. ]

So we're both gonna end up turning into some sort of freakish thing like them? [ He'd make some remark about how for Kor that might actually be an improvement, but he's really not in the mood right now. ] What're we sticking around for, then? We gotta get out of here!

[ Sure, he might be fine for now...but who knows whether or not he'll luck out if he stays here for too long? And if he doesn't, how long he'll last? What if Kohaku shows up at some point and finds some hideous beast in place of her brother? On top of all that, he really can't fathom why all these monsters walking around are just...acting so casual about it. Kor acting so calm about the whole ordeal as well isn't doing him any favors, either.

Also...were his canine teeth always that pointy? Nah, it must be some trick of the light. Surely. ]

[spirialink]

Huh? No, I won't turn into a monster. I'm what they call a "witch" here, so I get to stay fully human. You, on the other hand...

[He stares at Hisui for a second.]

...I dunno about you. You still look like you, at least. [kor was usually too busy staring at Kohaku to really bother staring at Hisui and make note of his finer features like the shape of his teeth.]

[gale_arc]

[ Don't ever say that out loud, Kor, unless you want Hisui to punch you. Multiple times. ]

A witch? You? Last time I checked, you couldn't even use Will Artes!

[ Nevermind the whole connotation of "witch" being a whole alarming ordeal in itself, though Hisui would still take that over being a beast. Kor's comment that he still looks normal is reassuring for now - he has to hold back a relieved huff - but that clock is ticking. What if he sprouts horns or whatever in the next fifteen minutes? ]

Still feel like myself, too. Guess I'm in the clear. [ At least as far as he can tell. Kor's the expert on this, not him. ...well, comparatively, that is. ] But ain't there some way out of this mess?

[ That's...assuming there's even a way out in the first place. There has to be one, right? With any luck, the way out won't be nearly as distressing as the way in. Between the fear of turning into a monster and the fact that he's still got a sister in pieces back home, Hisui wants out. ]

[spirialink]

Yeah, I really hit the jackpot when it came to this! Just watch, you won't be able to do anything like this with your Soma! [Connotations of being a "witch" aside, Kor sounds pleased as punch about it. Couldn't use Will Artes but now he can do All The Magic! Or at least the magic he learns.

But he decides to demonstrate for Hisui. He grabs the hilt of his Soma and draws it. Which in itself isn't that impressive. He does that all the time. But then he casts his sword spell, and a blade extends from the hilt, crackling and teeming with electricity and giving off an energy that... definitely wasn't Will.

That just leaves Hisui's other question.]

They're... still trying to figure that part out. How to get people home, I mean. It's been a couple months for me, and I guess even longer for other people here.

[gale_arc]

[ Hisui is a split second away from commenting that it's just the usual sword Soma Kor draws and that he can do plenty of cool things with Gale Arc as long as no one else is "borrowing" it when...okay yeah nevermind, he doesn't remember Kor's Soma having sparks coming off of it like that. ]

What the- Since when was your Soma that flashy?

[ Yeah, that. That definitely wasn't a Will arte. Just where did he learn to do that?!

Though unfortunately, as impressed as he is, it's quickly replaced by another bout of frustration. Gees, as if mismatched memories weren't bad enough. ]

What do you mean, months?! I just saw you a few hours ago! Dammit, the more you explain this place, the less sense it makes!

[ Geez. At least that explains why Kor is so calm about this; a few months would be long enough to get used to something like this. But more frustrating is the fact that there's no way out. He's upset. And maybe a bit scared. The latter of which, of course, he's not going to openly express in favor of the former. ]

So, what, I'm supposed to just sit here and wait around to figure out what's gonna happen to me? Is that it?

[spirialink]

[Geez, Hisui sure asks a lot of questions. Kor feels his head spinning just trying to keep up with all his questioning. He can already feel himself getting frustrated with Hisui. Which, you know, both a good thing and a bad thing.]

No, what you need to do is relax. [He's trying to keep his cool, but boy is that hard when it comes to Hisui. Old habits die hard, especially when dealing with a Hisui who hasn't been through the same stuff as him.]

I... don't really have the answers you want, Hisui. My head hurts whenever people here try to explain things to me, so I just kinda figure it out as I go. But maybe you can figure it out, so I'm taking you somewhere you can get your answers.

[gale_arc]

[ Okay, so. Kor having a hard time explaining things, he can handle. Kor leading him somewhere that can offer him answers, pretty okay. But that advice? ]

Relax?

[ Not quite what he wanted to hear.

Hisui's lips curl back into a furious snarl, his teeth sharpened and his pupils narrowed to cat-like slits. He can't believe what he just heard come out of this idiot's mouth. How can Kor be so damn calm about this?! ]

In case you forgot, we're up to our necks in trouble back home! We're all wanted criminals! I've got a sister to look after, dammit! You think just because you lucked out and didn't get turned into some freakish monster means you can tell me to relax?!

[ Sorry, Kor. But Hisui hasn't had the luxury of being trapped here for as long as you. He's not about to sit around and be patient when he's fresh out of a dangerous desert. ]

1/2

[spirialink]

[It's really hard to keep your cool when someone's going off at you. Like really, really hard. He knows all too well about the stakes back home, way better than Hisui could ever begin to understand, and has been trying his damnedest to keep it off his mind, to hope that things are fine and that when he goes home everything will just pick up like he was never gone. That's what he keeps hearing and that's what he wants to believe.

And this asshole comes along and shoves it in his face that, oh yeah, things are bad right now.]

You think you're the only one worried about things back home right now? That you're the only one concerned about our friends?!

[He's getting right up in Hisui's face now.]

I promised that I'd always be by Kohaku's side to take care of her, and yet I'm stuck here while she and Lithia are trying to do whatever they can to stop Creed from destroying our planet! And i can't do anything about it! [He may have just told Hisui more than he needed to know.]

And now I... I...!

[spirialink]

[Being right up in Hisui's face has allowed Kor to notice something about Hisui. Something that causes Kor to stop dead in his heated rant.]

H-Hisui...

[He takes a step back from him, clearly shocked.]

Have you always had cat eyes...?

[gale_arc]

Well, you sure ain't acting like-

[ While Kor's sudden burst of anger is enough to get Hisui's attention (and very nearly some furious snapping in return), what gets him to pause is the sudden stream of unfamiliar information coming from him. He knew about Lithia - Kohaku had already explained that much, even if he's still not entirely sure he buys it - but...Creed? Destroying the planet? He knew they had a few differences in memory, sure, but... ]

Whoa whoa, back it up. Who's trying to destroy our planet? I thought we were looking for the rest of Kohaku's shards!

[ Kor isn't the brightest crayon in the box, meaning he wouldn't make up something like that. Sure, he trusts the kid - doesn't necessarily mean he likes him, though - but this? This is a lot. It's downright absurd. And even if that were true, who the hell would sign up for that? ]

And no, I don't have cat eyes! [ He absolutely has cat eyes. And he's closing that distance by stepping forward. You're not getting away from him, Kor. ] Don't change the subject!

[spirialink]

Huh? ... [It dawns on him what exactly just happened, as he hastily scrambles to clamp his hands over his mouth.]

Oh, crap, I think I just said too much! Sorry, Hisui. I think I just spoiled the future for you.

[Is that a bad thing, is that going to screw something up, are time knights going to appear and arrest him.]

J-just pretend I didn't say any of that!

[gale_arc]

[ Sorry, Kor, it's too late for you now. ]

Like hell I'm gonna do that! You think I'm just gonna ignore somethin' like the end of the world? You can't just say stuff like that and tell me to keep quiet about it!

[ He growls in frustration. Right when he thought this place couldn't get any worse, now he has to hear about the entire world being in danger? Kor's backpedaling here is far from welcome. ]

[spirialink]

[Kor frowns deeply. He really hecked up now, huh?]

Okay, I'll tell you, but... Are you sure you really want to hear this? It might be my present, but it's your future.

[gale_arc]

[ You definitely done goofed, Sparkles. ]

I wouldn't be asking if I didn't want to know. Spit it out, already!

[ You're the one that went past the point of return here, Kor, not him. He doesn't care how badly you want to put a lid on it. Not if the fate of their entire planet is being brought into question. There are, however, some priorities that haven't changed: ]

First things first, though. Is. Kohaku. Safe?

[ Said with a fierce glare. You'd better give him the answer he wants to hear, Kor. Today's already been bad enough and you're well within punching range. ]

[spirialink]

Of course she is!

[His response comes lightning quick. He almost sounds offended you'd even ask that, Hisui.]

I wouldn't ever let anything bad happen to Kohaku!

[Don't forget you trusted him with Kohaku in the desert, Hisui.]

[gale_arc]

[ Hisui glares at Kor for a few moments more, long enough for him to get a good look at those feline eyes of his (although that isn't really his intent). He looks like he's about ready to chew him out...but after that moment passes, he backs off. ]

Good.

[ Kor may not have his blessing, no. And he's still not really sure he likes the guy (but he'll admit, he ain't terrible). But he knows how serious Kor is about helping Kohaku. He's heard the kid mumbling about it in his sleep, after all. If Kor says she's safe, then she's safe.

Not that he's going to outright admit to any of that. Of course not.

It's been one hell of a day, and Hisui is still intent on pressing for answers. The knowledge that his sister is safe, though, is more than welcome news to him. Even if it's coming from this guy. ]

Alright, kid, from the top. What's all this about some Creed guy destroying the world? You wanna tell me how we got roped into that?

[spirialink]

[Oof... Where to even begin? Kor at least has enough sense not to tell Hisui that Creed was inside him the whole time. That was liable to get him clobbered no matter what he tries to say about it.]

Creed is... He's the "Scarlet Devil", you know, from the fairy tales? And the boss of Incarose, and he's Lithia's sworn enemy too. All that stuff Kohaku was saying about Lithia? It was all true. Lithia's been fighting an unseen battle against him for over a thousand years, and even our parents were part of it.

[He's got a serious expression on his face. He isn't making this stuff up.

[gale_arc]

This crap again?

[ Look, just because Kohaku gave everyone that big speech after they escaped from Straga doesn't mean Hisui has to buy it all. He wasn't into it then and he's not into it now. Sure, he's got her back no matter what, and there's no denying that the Xerom are more than just stories, but it's still far-fetched. And...well, something about it just rubs him the wrong way.

But in all fairness, after everything he's been through even before today, he's starting to doubt it less. Plus, if Kor is as serious about all this as Kohaku is, he can't just turn a blind eye, as much as he'd like to otherwise. He'll be the one to decide how much of it he believes, though. ]

So that witch ain't even the worst of it... [ and he's seen firsthand just how powerful and dangerous Incarose is. Multiple times. To think that she has a boss who's potentially even worse is nightmare material.

...though something about Kor's mention of his parents strikes a chord with him. But not just his parents... ]

Hold up, our parents? [ Yes, he caught that. ] Wrapped up in some thousand-year-long war? Damn, the crazy stories just won't quit coming today!

[ He doesn't like where any of this is headed, especially if Kor's earlier outburst is anything to go by... ]

[spirialink]

Uh-huh. [Kor's got a pensive look on his face. Kor didn't particularly like where it had headed when it actually happened, either.]

Your mom, my mom, and Gramps. Chalcedony's dad too, they were all a team with Lithia the last time they fought against Creed.

[Surprise, Hisui, you're a family friend.]